Navy terminology

Passageway

(P-way) A Hallway

Petty Officer

A Navy NCO, E-4 through E-6, E-7 through E-9 are further identified as Chief Petty Officers

Quarterdeck

A ceremonial bridge of the ship when the ship is moored or at anchor(It is located close to the brow or accommodation ladder and is the watch station for the Officer of the Deck.)

Seabag

A heavy canvas bag used to stow personal gear

Brown bagger

A married Marine, refers to their bringing in lunch from home in a brown paper bag.

Swab

A mop, also a derisive slang for an enlisted sailor

Brig

A place of confinement, a prison

Brow

A portable walkway from the pier or jetty to the ship's quarterdeck

Chit

A receipt of authorization; a piece of paper

Rate

A sailor's occupational specialty, as opposed to rank.

All Hands

All members of a unit or command

Buttkit

An Ashtray

Gangway

An opening in the rail giving access to the ship while docked. Also, a command announcement to stand aside to let someone through

Ashore

Any place outside a Navy vessel or Marine Corps Reservation.

Liberty

Authorized absence of enlisted from the shipper command for less than 96 hours for purposes of rest and recreation that is not charged as leave.

Turn to

Begin work, get started

Overhead

Ceiling

C.P.

Command Post in the field.

Field Day

Comprehensive barracks cleanup, typically done weekly

Geedunk

Refers to candy, ice cream, soda, and smokes or the place where they can be sold

Aft

Refers to or toward the stern (Rear) of a vessel.

Field scarf

Regulation Marine Corps uniform necktie

Aye aye, sir

Required official acknowledgement of an order meaning I have received, understand, and will carry out the order or instruction.

As you were

Resume former activity

Carry on

Resumer previous activity

Galley

Shipboard kitchen Kitchen of a mess hall mobile field mess

Secure

Stop, finish, end, make fast, put away in storage

Breakout

Take out of stock or storage

Gator

an amphibious ship or one who serves in the amphibious Navy

Hatch

an opening between decks, or the cover of such an opening

Port

left

Forecastle

pronounced (Foksel) The upper deck at the bow forward of the foremast; traditionally, on sailing ships and on merchant ships today, the crew's quarters were below it.

Ladder

stairs

Head

toilet

Topside

Upstairs, upper deck

Smoking Lamp

When the lamp is on, sailors are allowed to smoke.

Wardroom

Where officers take their meals, relax, and socialize

Below

Downstairs, lower deck

Gundecking

Falsifying reports, records, and the like.

Skylark

Goof-off, loiter

Sick bay

Hospital or Dispensary

Skipper

Informal term for the Captain of a ship; informal term for a Marine Corps Company Commander

Adrift

Loose from towing line or moorings; scattered about, not in proper stowage; Usage "Gear Adrift"

Shippingover

Reenlisting

Starboard

The Vikings called the side of their ships boards, and they placed the steering oar, the "Star", on the right side of the ship and that side became known as the starboard. Because the oar was on the right side, the ship was docked on the left side. This was known as the loading side or "Larboard." Later, it was decided that larboard and starboard were too similar so the phrase became "The side at which you tie up at port" or Portside.

Stern

The aft end, or rear of the ship

Scuttlebutt

The cask from which the ship's crew took their drinking water, like a water fountain. Since the crew used to congregate around the scuttlebutt, that is where rumors about the ship or voyage would begin. Thus, then and now, rumors are talk from the "Scuttlebutt" or just "Scuttlebutt"

Bow

The front portion of a ship

Fantail

The main aft deck of a ship

Aweigh

The moment a ship's anchor leaves the sea bottom

Bridge

The portion of a ship's structure from which it is controlled when underway. The Captain or Officer of the Deck's place of duty when underway.

Belay

To make fast or to secure. To cancel or to disregard the statement just made

Square Away

To straighten, make ship-shape, or to get settled; to inform or admonish someone abruptly.

Police

To streikten or tidy up, pick up gear adrift

Watch

Tour of duty, on the ship the entire day is split into (Usually) 4 hour watches, and tracked by the tolling of a bell.